World Leaders Set to Open 80th UN General Assembly Debate in New York

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The 80th session of the annual General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) opens on Tuesday in New York, with speeches by U.S. President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled for the opening day.

The debate, which begins at 9 a.m. (1300 GMT), will also feature addresses from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock.

Key Issues on the Agenda

High on this year’s agenda are the ongoing war in Ukraine, the Middle East conflict, and the UN’s deepening financial crisis. A high-level session of the UN Security Council focusing on Ukraine is also expected, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slated to attend.

Analysts say attention will also be on the evolving geopolitical role of the United States under President Trump, as well as global concerns about peace, security, and climate action.

A Week of High-Level Engagements

Over 150 heads of state and government are scheduled to address the General Assembly throughout the week, making it one of the most significant annual gatherings of world leaders.

Nigeria is represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who leads the country’s delegation to the event. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shettima is standing in for President Bola Tinubu at the global forum.

Background

The UN General Assembly, founded in 1945, remains the world’s premier multilateral platform for international diplomacy. Its annual general debate offers member states an opportunity to present national perspectives on pressing global challenges and propose pathways for collective action.